Tom began his career at Keswick School in the fall of 2004 as a residential aide. During his 15-year tenure at TKS, he has served in many roles including residential counselor, shift supervisor, support counselor, academic behavior specialist, and assistant residential coordinator. Currently, Tom is the Associate Director of Admissions, working to enroll students who will thrive in our community and as an ambassador for the school to parents and professionals.
Prior to coming to TKS, Tom worked at Camp Overlook in Harrisonburg, Virginia for five summers. During his time at Overlook, he developed a passion for working with children. Specifically, his time working with students with special needs instilled a desire to help those who are often failed by the systems that are meant to help them.
Tom attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia for both his undergraduate and graduate education. He received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology, graduating with honors, and his Master of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in behavior analysis. While at JMU, Tom worked in the Alvin V. Baird Attention and Learning Disabilities Center where he studied and implemented Parent Child Interaction Therapy. He also worked in the JMU Inter-Professional Autism Clinic where he collaborated with psychologists, occupational therapists and speech language pathologists to provide merged treatment. He also gained experience at local public schools in special education classrooms through his practicum.
After earning his Master’s degree, Tom became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Licensed Behavior Analyst in the state of Virginia. He worked for Augusta County Public schools prior to entering his role in admissions. Ultimately, Tom couldn’t stay away from TKS for very long and returned to his “professional home.” “Keswick School has been an integral part of my personal and professional life,” Tom says, “My time at TKS has only served to increase my sense of calling to work with this community. The support TKS has to offer is not exclusive to our students. I cannot count the times in which Keswick School has supported me in my growth as a person and as a professional. I would not be where I am today without the guidance and care offered to me by the school’s administration.”
Tom grew up as a minister’s son and lived throughout Virginia, but regards the Shenandoah Valley as his home. Today he resides in Waynesboro, Virginia with his husband, Wayne, and their three dogs, Obi, Lilo, and Finn. When not working, Tom enjoys traveling, especially to Disney World. He also enjoys hiking, exploring Virginia’s history, and baking.
We are thrilled to have Tom as part of the admissions team. Please say hello to him at the next IECA or NATSAP conference!
